Punjab, Cricket’s Comeback Kings

A couple of weeks ago Kings XI Punjab looked dead and buried in the Indian Premier League. But a run of four straight victories, the most spectacular being Tuesday’s 111-run thrashing of table-toppers Royal Challengers Bangalore, has kept their IPL hopes alive.

After a four-match winning start to the IPL4 campaign, Kings XI Punjab, co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, stumbled on a wretched run of five consecutive losses. Much like the Punjab economy, the Kings XI was starting to look like a star that had lost its shine.

Then came an unlikely, but convincing, 76-run victory over the star-studded Mumbai Indians in Mohali on May 10. Ms. Zinta’s celebrations that day showed she hadn’t given up hope, and rightly so, given that the team has since clambered back into contention, with wins against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Tuesday’s victory against Bangalore was the most impressive. The Royal Challengers came to the stunning Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on the back of seven-straight wins, inspired by the late arrival of the explosive Chris Gayle.

But Kings XI Punjab’s veteran Australian captain Adam Gilchrist stole the limelight Tuesday night, scoring a sizzling 106 runs in just 55-balls. It was another memorable innings from Gilchrist, who at 39 is one of several elder statesmen having a grand old time this IPL.

One of his nine sixes traveled a mammoth 122 meters into the rarified Dharamsala night sky, as he presented a fine case for those who argue he is a better hitter of the ball than even Gayle or India’s Virender Sehwag.

Gilchrist was superbly supported by his countryman Shaun Marsh, who struck 79 in 49 deliveries, including 30 runs off just one Johan van der Wath over. Marsh and Gilchrist’s 206-run partnership was the highest ever in a Twenty20 match.

Royal Challengers Bangalore never looked like getting close to Kings XI’s 232-run total, particularly after Gayle was out for a duck and No. 3 Virat Kohli – who has had a fine tournament – was caught on 11.

The Vijay Mallya-owned franchise is through to the next stage of IPL4 anyway after notching up 17 points. Kings XI Punjab are in a more perilous position on 14 points and fifth in the table. Only the top four teams go through to the qualifiers. Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians, both on 16 points, are well set, while Kolkata Knight Riders look most likely to tie up the fourth spot.

Still, Kings XI Punjab have made a remarkable recovery. They will need to beat the Deccan Chargers in their last match (to be played on the lucky home turf of Dharamsala) and also hope that other results go in their favor.

One such match is tomorrow’s tie between Pune Warriors and Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai. The Punjab team will be hoping that Sourav Ganguly, the “Prince of Calcutta” now playing for Pune, is in the mood to spoil his hometown’s IPL chances.